Proudly Feminist, Proudly Bisexual, Proudly Atheist.

Yemisi Ilesanmi is a Nigerian woman, resident in UK. She holds a Masters of Law (LL.M) degree in Gender, Sexuality and Human Rights. She is a trade unionist, human rights activist, an author, a poet and sometimes moonlights as a plus size model.

She is a passionate campaigner for equal rights, social justice and poverty alleviation. Her debut book 'Freedom To Love For ALL: Homosexuality is Not Un-African' is available in paperback and kindle editions on Amazon (www.amazon.com/dp/1481864815).

In sometimes, what she thinks as a past life, she was-
- National Women leader/Assistant National Secretary, Nigeria Labour Party.
- Vice President, International Trade Union Congress
- Chairperson, ITUC Youth Committee
- International Labour Conference (ILC) Committee Member on Applications of Standards
- Founder/President, National Association of Nigerian Female Students

She is the founder and coordinator of the campaign group Nigerian LGBTIs in Diaspora Against Anti-Same Sex Laws.

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Order your sizzling copy of : Freedom To Love For ALL: Homosexuality is Not Un-African! Available in Paperback and kindle editions on Amazon.

This review is from: Freedom To Love For All: Homosexuality is not Un-African, (Paperback) Ms.Yemisi Ilesanmi manages to put together a brilliant piece of artwork full of eloquence, deep analytical skills and detailed references.This book breaks down stereotypes, single stories and farces by confronting hypocrisy, bigotry and ignorance with dignity, enlightenment and love. The reader becomes educated, motivated, outraged and empowered. By far one of the best books that covers LGBT rights in Africa, with an African voice. Highly recommended to students and scholars interested in gender studies, queer studies, African studies or Human Rights in general. Also very accessible to general public, in particular to persons committed to social change and the fight against discrimination in all its forms. - Miguel Obradors

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EVENTS

I am a Single Mother

In our patriarchal and pseudo-conservative societies, single mothers are often victims of moral judgments and societal pressures. We all must learn to respect the choice of the other and not seek to impose our lifestyle choice and doctrines on another, for only then can we truly be free!

This delightful poem is for all single mums out there! Happy Mothers’ Day!

Happy (belated) Mother’s Day! I’m not a mom myself, but I do of course have a mom. I like how you express both an individual and a maternal identity with this poem.

Some poetry reads smoothly in my head as prose, but sounds cumbersome if performed; and some poetry just doesn’t work until I imagine a voice giving it character and nuance. Having re-read your others and now this one, I definitely find your style to fit the second category for me, to the point that I can “hear” you performing them. Do you think about how you would/will read the words out loud as you write? There’s a very strong sense of personality to them. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks! Yes, I understand how my poems could appeal more when brought to life by a person who gets into the role and embrace the personality. Once I post some of my other poems, you will find out my poems are mostly about issues like feminism, sexism, culture, stereotypes and equality rights, and they tend to take on a personality of a strong person trying to break the chains of oppression. Many single mums fell in love with this poem when i first published it on my Facebook page. They identify with it and could see themselves in the character.

I think if I am to read the words out and perform my poems, I will get seriously engrossed in the role, especially since I identify with the subject matter addressed in most of my poems.

I would personally interpret that bit of the poem to be clear… “I spare the rod”… Not ambiguous? Smack, but leave no mark. Could that possibly refer to being strict but without resort to physical punishment!

Yemmy, sorry about the level of literary criticism here, I think FTBs is letting you down in that regard if it requires me to point out such an obvious interpretation!

oolon -- In all honesty, I just assume they make these silly comments just to be vile because i can’t imagine they’d truly be this stupid. But if they are truly this uninformed , they’d do well to leave their mouth in park if their brain is not in gear.

Could that possibly refer to being strict but without resort to physical punishment!

It could. On the other hand, it could refer to striking that is far less severe than the ‘rod’, but still falls under the definition of physical contact. That is kind of closer to the meaning implied by the word ‘smack’. Adding the part about not leaving a mark actually sounds a little bit creepy. Sort of reminds me of this kind of thing: I would steer away from this imagery as much as possible.